The Way Forward in Congress
Congress is back this week from its July 4th recess with much work ahead before the August break. Unfinished business related to the International Affairs Budget includes Senate action on the House-passed FY 2010 war and Haiti supplemental spending bill, which includes an additional $23 billion for domestic programs. In addition, Senate action on 302(b) allocations and State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee’s markup of the FY 11 spending bill are possible any day. Prior to leaving for the July 4th recess, the House Appropriations State-Foreign Operations Subcommittee approved its spending bill, which cut $4 billion from the President’s request for the International Affairs Budget. The House also attached to the supplemental a one-year “budget deeming” resolution setting a binding overall cap – 302(a) allocation – on FY 2011 discretionary spending.
